We were in a small village in Musashi. Turned out the girl Reina was the daughter of the greatest dog demon to ever live. I was outside the village wandering through the wookds. Back at the hut Kagome was still yelling at Reina and the others lingered waiting for the food Priestess Kaede promised them Yuki had returned earlier that day and was especially famished. I heard my name behind me and turned to find Inuyasha standing there. I bowed low to him and gave him a small smile. "Lord Inuyasha."
Inuyasha gave me a grin. "Cut the formalities Cho."
I returned his smile with a half-smile of my own. "It's been a while Inuyasha."
He nodded and invited me to sit with him beneath the large God-tree. "Where did you go all those years ago? What happened?"
I closed my eyes and let myself drift off into memory. "As you know the last time I was at your fathers house you were very young and Sesshomaru had not yet taken on the roles of Lord Of The Western Lands. When I came to your father's castle that last time your father's steward declared that I was to marry Sesshomaru…"
"Marry Sesshomaru?" I asked, my voice calm despite the turmoil in my heart.
"Yes, your father and I both agree to this match." He said smiling as if I should clap with joy at his declaration of running my life.
"My Lord I must decline. I cannot marry Sesshomaru." I said quietly. I wore a very elaborate kimono but the look he turned on me I felt as if I wore rags.
"Cannot marry Sesshomaru…and why is that?" He asked exaggeratingly polite.
"Sesshomaru doesn't like me." I said. It hurt me to say that but I knew it was the truth. I had fallen in love with him long ago but Sesshomaru…he wanted another. I couldn't let him be unhappy even if it meant me being happy.
"Sessho-Sesshomaru doesn't like you!" He stood angrily from his chair and glared at me. "He doesn't have to like you! You are not marrying out of love! You are marrying out of duty!"
There was a longer period of yelling which I ignored before I was finally able to get away to the west gardens. I sat on the bench and began to think. I was still there when Sesshomaru found me as the moon was high in the sky. "Lord Sesshomaru." I said as I opened my eyes.
"You defied your father and my steward to keep from marrying me. Does the thought displease you so?" He said softly. In the years that we had known each other I was the only one Sesshomaru ever had conversations with. It was the best gift anyone could have ever given me.
"It doesn't displease me in the slightest. However I know it would displease you." I said quietly watching him carefully.
"Why would it displease me?" He asked sitting beside me.
"I know you want another, my Lord." I said.
"Why so formal Cho?" He said touching my cheek gently.
"If I don't act formal I am afraid I may cry." I confessed leaning into his hand to look up at his confused face. For a second I just looked at him then I leaned up and kissed him gently before standing and taking a few steps away. "Sessho I love you. But I wont marry you unless it is out of love. I know there is another for you. I am leaving in the morning and I wont be coming back unless you send for me. Good bye Sessho." I turned and fled, a ghost feeling of his lips against mine. The next morning I moved into an outer castle on my families lands and for the next hundred years or so I lived alone thinking and dreaming of Sessho.
Inuyasha looked at me sadly. He had listened to my story in silence and I noticed his mate Kagome had joined us as I told my tale. "Sesshomaru never got married. There was a story about one of his mothers ladies-in-waiting but it never bore fruit If there was a serious match Sesshomaru would have married her by now."
I gave him a small smile. "Maybe I'll go see him after this quest is over."
"Speaking of quests…Reina is going with you. Kagome and I also will travel with you for a few days at least. It wont hurt to have us along." He said smiling up at Kagome.
She gave him a smile back then winked at me. "He's just looking for an excuse to kill something."
I gave them both a grin unhidden by the Inu-Calm we were taught as young nobles and winked back. "It's a dog thing."
Kagome laughed and rubbed Inuyasha's ears before heading back to the village, the sound of humming floating back to us. Inuyasha glanced at me to see if I would insult his mortal wife.
I smiled sweetly at him. "Kagome is an amazing person."
"Sesshomaru fought our marriage at first but in the end he let us marry." Inuyasha said looking out over the clearing.
"Toga taught Sesshomaru hate of humans and half-demons before he met your mother. Though its fading some things will set it off again." I said patting his shoulder.
"I know. Rin is a great help as well." He said.
"Rin?" I asked, why did that name sound familiar?
"She's a human who traveled with him for over a decade. About eight years ago she fell in love with another human and the two of them take care of Sesshomaru's castle." Inuyasha said smiling softly in memory. "Rin was always a handful."
"Did they ever?" I asked quietly.
Inuyasha shook his head vehemently. "Sesshomaru always thought of her as a daughter. Nothing else." He stood and helped me to my feet. "Well come on. We need some sleep so we can head off tomorrow."
I stood and smiled at him. "Alright. Let's be off."